Oil and gas operations are large sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and volatile organic compounds, which contribute to smog pollution that triggers asthma attacks and other respiratory diseases. In August, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, proposed the first-ever methane pollution standards that will require new and modified oil and gas facilities to use readily available technology to curb these harmful and wasteful leaks. This proposal is a critical part of the Obama administration’s plan to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2025 and marks another step toward achieving the goal of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent by 2025.
Please join the Center for American Progress as we host a conversation with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to discuss how the proposed limits on methane pollution from the oil and gas sector can benefit the climate, human health, and worker safety.
Featured speaker:
Gina McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Moderated by:
Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress